Category Archives: Latest News
Changing Minds
by Ann Heitland, First Vice Chair An interesting article by a former rocket scientist dropped into my inbox and since it pursues a theme we’ve been discussing, I wanted to share it with you along with some highlights that I took from reading it. The article is “Facts Don’t Change People’s Minds. Here’s What Does.” As […]
Continue readingWhy This Week Was A Win
The bill Trump signed Friday (no doubt without reading) would have been quite different had the Democrats not won the House in November. Elections do matter. Without the need to compromise with Democrats to pass a funding bill, the Republicans in the Senate would never have defied Trump as much as this new law does. […]
Continue readingLD-7 Democrats Sponsor Anti-Fracking Bill
Take note that while all three LD-7 members of the legislature– Myron Tsosie (D), Arlando Teller (D) and Jamescita Peshlakai are co-sponsors of the fracking ban legislation, it is no longer a bi-partisan bill. Walt Blackman (R) from LD-6 apparently buckled to his party leadership and corporate interests and is no longer listed as a […]
Continue readingDemocrats Act in AZ Legislature
Last week, 18 Democratic-led bills were heard and fifteen passed out of committee, a majority with unanimous support. (That’s an 83% success rate.) These bills highlight how Democrats continue to fight for all Arizonans: Medical treatment for veterans (Rep. Espinoza HCM2001: deported veterans; medical treatment) Financial relief for college students (Sen. Navarrete SB1373: appropriation; Maricopa […]
Continue readingVoter Suppression: Republicans’ Favorite Thing
This week a new voter suppression bill reared up in the Arizona Legislature. This week Republican Rep. Townsend introduced a bill (HB2616), which would prohibit anyone employee of any organization (except political parties) from registering people to vote. This would include some of Arizona’s leading voter registration organizations and is yet another move by the […]
Continue readingPresidential Debate News
The Democratic National Committee, which oversees the debates among Democratic Candidates prior to the DNC Convention in July 2020, announced qualification requirements for the presidential debates that include metrics related to grass-roots support. There will be 12 debates held over the course of the 2020 election cycle. The first debate will be in June 2019 […]
Continue readingVoucher Expansion Insults Voters’ Will
Yesterday, in the Senate Finance Committee on a strictly partisan vote (6-4), GOP senators approved a bill that expands so-called “Empowerment Scholarships” and a separate bill to strip Superintendent Hoffman of ESA oversight. Barely three months ago voters overwhelmingly rejected Prop 305 — the legislature’s last attempt at ESA expansion — and elected Superintendent Hoffman to lead Arizona’s Education Department and […]
Continue readingFelicia French Challenges Sylvia Allen #2020
2018 State House candidate Colonel (Ret.) Felicia French, a nurse, sustainability scientist, educator and former MedEvac helicopter pilot, announces her 2020 candidacy for LD 6 State Senate. French came within 577 votes of winning the 2018 State House race, and she is ready to run again. She is determined to continue the fight for a better […]
Continue readingAZ Legislature About to Waste Tax Dollars on Indefensible Legislation – Again
It seems ridiculous, but the Republicans in the Arizona legislature do it every year: Consider and often pass legislation that is clearly unconstitutional. It’s not just a waste of their time; if Governor Ducey signs these frivolous bills, the State is stuck defending the indefensible laws in court. And that means our tax dollars go […]
Continue reading2020 Senate Race Blasts Off
Mark Kelly became the first Democrat to throw his hat into the 2020 U.S. Senate race. On February 12 — Lincoln’s Birthday — Mark Kelly became the first Democrat to run against Martha McSally in the 2020 U.S. Senate race. Lincoln faced a country divided much like what we have today. Mark is a candidate […]
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